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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| BT warns customers of phone scams | |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| BT is warning customers to be on their guard after a series of phone scams involving people claiming to be calling from the company. | BT is warning customers to be on their guard after a series of phone scams involving people claiming to be calling from the company. |
| The scammers call up their victim and warn them that their account is in arrears. | The scammers call up their victim and warn them that their account is in arrears. |
| They then ask for card or bank details in order to settle the account. | They then ask for card or bank details in order to settle the account. |
| If the person refuses or asks for proof, the fraudsters then offer to prove who they are by disconnecting the phone line then and there. | If the person refuses or asks for proof, the fraudsters then offer to prove who they are by disconnecting the phone line then and there. |
| Once the victim puts the phone down, the scammer stays connected to their line, thus giving the impression that the customer's line no longer works. | Once the victim puts the phone down, the scammer stays connected to their line, thus giving the impression that the customer's line no longer works. |
| Almost duped | Almost duped |
| Andrew West nearly fell foul of the scammers' latest ploy in August. | Andrew West nearly fell foul of the scammers' latest ploy in August. |
| Places affected SuffolkSussexKentNottinghamshireShropshireWarwickshireNorth YorkshireDevonWest MidlandsPembrokeshire | Places affected SuffolkSussexKentNottinghamshireShropshireWarwickshireNorth YorkshireDevonWest MidlandsPembrokeshire |
| But he quite quickly became suspicious of the caller's true identity. | But he quite quickly became suspicious of the caller's true identity. |
| He said: "It was the lack of background chatter initially; there was no call centre noise in the background, which there always is when someone from a big company calls you. | He said: "It was the lack of background chatter initially; there was no call centre noise in the background, which there always is when someone from a big company calls you. |
| "The line wasn't very good quality anyway, which was a bit strange, but it was the trick with the phones that really tipped me off." | "The line wasn't very good quality anyway, which was a bit strange, but it was the trick with the phones that really tipped me off." |
| Nationwide problem | Nationwide problem |
| Evidence shows this type of phone scam has been happening all over the country. | Evidence shows this type of phone scam has been happening all over the country. |
| Last weekend a number of elderly people in Suffolk fell victim to the scam; there have also been cases in the past year all over England and Wales. | Last weekend a number of elderly people in Suffolk fell victim to the scam; there have also been cases in the past year all over England and Wales. |
| Graham Preston, the lead officer for scams at Trading Standards, admits this type of phone fraud is around. | Graham Preston, the lead officer for scams at Trading Standards, admits this type of phone fraud is around. |
| "Scams sadly are very common, they are variations of a theme and this particular scam seems to be prevalent at the moment," he said. | "Scams sadly are very common, they are variations of a theme and this particular scam seems to be prevalent at the moment," he said. |
| He warns people to be on guard. | He warns people to be on guard. |
| "In terms of advising people, keep your wits about you, be cynical. If somebody calls you, mistrust them if you have to, or don't trust them," he said. | "In terms of advising people, keep your wits about you, be cynical. If somebody calls you, mistrust them if you have to, or don't trust them," he said. |
| "Particularly if they are asking for money, if they want your credit card details don't be afraid to say no," he added. | "Particularly if they are asking for money, if they want your credit card details don't be afraid to say no," he added. |
| Upsetting experience | Upsetting experience |
| Mr West ended up writing about his experience in his blog to warn other people about the trick. | Mr West ended up writing about his experience in his blog to warn other people about the trick. |
| He admits the experience upset him. | He admits the experience upset him. |
| "I was a bit unsettled by it. I think it's one of those ones that if you didn't happen to know the trick, you could be easily taken in by it. It just makes you feel a bit nervous, " he added. | "I was a bit unsettled by it. I think it's one of those ones that if you didn't happen to know the trick, you could be easily taken in by it. It just makes you feel a bit nervous, " he added. |
| BT says it does sometimes make calls to customers about debt - but stresses that it never carries out disconnections during the call. | BT says it does sometimes make calls to customers about debt - but stresses that it never carries out disconnections during the call. |
| It advises customers not to give out any banking details over the phone unless they are absolutely certain who they are dealing with. | It advises customers not to give out any banking details over the phone unless they are absolutely certain who they are dealing with. |
| Have you been affected by this phone scam? Or has someone you know? What was the outcome? Send us your comments. | |
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